Developer outlines goals for project

Jeremy Gump of Sturgis, president of Inquire Partners, is looking to bring enterprise to downtown.

By Rosalie Curriercurrier@sturgisjournal.com

Jeremy Gump of Sturgis, president of Inquire Partners, is looking to bring enterprise to downtown.

At a Sturgis City Commissioners meeting in March, Gump discussed his purchase of the vacant Moose Lodge at 110 North St., a small apartment building at 210 John St. and a hair salon at 203 John St.

Gump's goal is to build a new facility for Inquire Partners, a corporate headquarters and leadership center on the street a block north of U.S. 12.

On Monday, an environmental testing company collected samples from the Moose Lodge. If it qualifies it as a Brownfield site, it would provide for tax increment financing, remediation, site preparation and infrastructure for the area, Gump said.

The St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation has had an environmental assessment done.

Gump will not receive state assistance to tear down the building because, at state level, the Moose is considered to have historical value, he said.

Infrastructure work Inquire Partners requirements include widening John Street to allow for parking and installing underground utilities.

Gump's goal is to have the apartment building demolished by the end of May and the Moose facility by July 4. He will leave the functioning hair salon open as long as possible to accommodate the beautician and her customers.

If all the elements align, it will lead to new construction for Inquire Partners.

The company offers businesses of all sizes access to a network of worldwide business leaders and experts who can provide advisory and outsourcing services, Gump said.

"My expertise is to start businesses and help improve operations," he said.

Gump, a 1991 Sturgis High School graduate, has worked as a consultant for Ernst & Young and as a corporate executive for Mercedes-Benz. He has connections and experience locally, nationally and internationally.

From that experience, Gump has learned that large corporations don't create jobs.

"The executive teams that work for the corporation create jobs," he said.

Location matters to the executive teams, he said.

Gump said the teams plan by asking questions such as:

Is it a desirable location for employees and executives to visit or live?Will they find qualified employees?Is it a good place to do business?Is it easily assessable?He believes Sturgis fulfills all those requirements.

"This is an opportunity I hadn't been looking for, but it came about at the right time," he said. "It appears to be the right opportunity at the right time."

Mike Hughes, Sturgis city manager, said the city is encouraged by the proposal.

"From the city's standpoint, we're excited about the prospects Inquire Partners has proposed," Hughes said. "We'll work with (Gump) to make the project successful."